Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkoː.ˌnɪŋk.lə.kə ˈliːr.sə ˈspɔrt.ˌkrɪŋ]) (often simply known as Lierse) is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups. Lierse is one of the 5 Belgian clubs to have played in the UEFA Champions League group stage with Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Genk and Standard. The most capped player at the club is Bernard Voorhoof with 61 caps for Belgium, all when he was at Lierse. With 30 goals, he is also the topscorer of the Belgium national football team together with Paul Van Himst.
The club was founded in 1906 and they first promoted to the first division in 1927-28. Lierse was successful in the first division until the end of World War II, winning 2 titles and finishing only 4 times outside the top 5. At the end of the 1947-48 season, they were relegated to the second division. Lierse enjoyed a two more spells at the highest level, each time with a championship win (between 1953-54 and 1985-86 and between 1988-89 and 2006-07).
Lierse play their home matches at the Herman Vanderpoortenstadion in Lier, which is also known as 'Het Lisp', because the stadium is located in a neighbourhood named Lisp. They have yellow and black colours. The club has been recently bought by an Egyptian business man named Maged Samy, who also owns KV Turnhout and Wadi Degla FC in Egypt which has a sporting contract with Arsenal. He bought the club by paying all of their debts.
[edit] History
In 1904 Gustaaf van den Roye proposed to start up a football club following the example of Antwerp. Easier said than done, as there was immediately opposition from the farmers of Kloosterheide (a rural area of Lier). The Earl, owner of the land proposed as the site for the club, invited Gust van den Roye to his home, to hear more details of his plans. Gust went to the Earl with a heavy heart, fearing for the future of his football plans, but was pleasantly surprised at the outcome; The Earl promised not only to allow the further use of his land, but also to arrange the necessary accommodation and… became honorary president of the club. On 5 March 1906, the first meeting was held in the premises of the Lierse Turnkring (Gymnastics club). However this didn’t produce the required outcome, and the following day, a new meeting was held in ‘De Roskum’ in Lier. Lierse was born and the first board was established: Gerard Quaeyhaegens as chairman Gust van den Roye as secretary Georges Peeters as Treasurer Emiel Vervloet, Paul and Jules Remouchamps, Bernard De Meyer, Arthur Haverals and Gustaaf Houtmortels were the board members.The very first match was against soldiers from the local barracks. The players in the first Lierse team were: Paul and Jules Remouchamps, Gust and Armand van den Roye, Jules Geuens, Arthur Haverals, Gustaaf Houtmortels, Jean de Meulenaer, Bernard de Meyer, J.Nozy, Alberic Verstappe and Gustave Thomas. The result was not recorded. In the 1907-08 season, Lierse contested friendlies against clubs affiliated to the Belgian Football Federation.Lierse was officially affiliated to the Belgian FA on 28 January 1909. To begin with Lierse played on a pitch in Kloosterheide, a rural area of Lier. In 1912 the ‘yellow-blacks’ moved to the ‘Molekens’, and on 30 August 1925, Lierse moved to their current home, the Herman Vanderpoorten stadium. Lierse were knocking on the door of the first division. Two years later Lierse were promoted. In 1932 Lierse were champions for the first time. They were champions again in 1942, during the Second World War. After 21 years in the first division, Lierse were relegated for the first time in 1948, but were promoted again five years later. In 1960, K.Lierse S.K won their third championship title, and distinguished themselves at European level. In 1969, Lierse won the Belgian Cup for the first time. 21 September 1971 is a day that Lierse supporters will never forget. Two weeks earlier, Lierse had lost 0-2 at home to the far superior Leeds United in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Nobody expected that Lierse would win in Leeds, but 90 minutes later the scoreboard read that Lierse had improbably won 0-4, and Leeds, the Cup holders were knocked out. In 1986 Lierse were again relegated, but were promoted back to the top division in 1988. Keeping up with the elite clubs in Belgium had now become the top priority. Rich clubs such as Anderlecht and Club Bruges reigned supreme in the Belgian League. In 1997 something happened which nobody thought possible. Lierse became league champions again. The hotly tipped favourites, Club Bruges, were surprisingly beaten to the title by Lierse. Two years later in 1999, Lierse won the Belgian Cup again. N.B Lierse have actually been Belgian champions five times, but their title in 1940-41 is not officially recognised after the league was suspended in 1939-40 after the outbreak of World War II. A pity because between 1930-45, Lierse along with the other top teams in Belgium at the time; Union, Daring, Beerschot and Antwerp, only finished once outside the top 5.[1]
[edit] Current squad
As of 12 January 2012 (2012 -01-12)[update]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] On Loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Coaching staff
[edit] Former notable players
[edit] Honours
- Belgian First Division:
- Winners (4): 1931-32, 1940-41 (unofficial season due to WWII), 1941-42, 1959-60, 1996-97
- Runners-up (2): 1934-35, 1938-39
- Belgian Second Division:
- Winners (2): 1926-27, 2009-10
- Runners-up (5): 1924-25, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1952-53, 2008-09
- Belgian Second Division Final Round:
- Winners (3): 1974, 1988, 2006
- Belgian Cup:
- Winners (2): 1968-69, 1998-99
- Runners-up (1): 1975-76
- Belgian Supercup:
[edit] European record
- As of March 5, 2006:
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Lierse S.K. – current squad
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Maged Samy
Ruud Kaiser
Chris Janssens
